A message from Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk to all members and employees of the ND National Guard, their families and to those who support our National Guard: It has been a week since the federal government shutdown began and I thank you for your continued patience and flexibility as we continue to go through this together. Every one of the 54 Adjutants General is in constant contact with the Chief of the National Guard Bureau and is briefed several times daily regarding the shutdown, the military technician recall and other pending issues. Sadly, the nation’s military – as a whole – continues to be limited in its ability to perform its mission due to the lack of appropriated funds for training and readiness. We are extremely thankful to have the vast majority of our full-time National Guard service members back to work as a result of the Pay Our Military Act and the Secretary of Defense’s interpretation of the guidance. Unfortunately, we still have a handful of our full-time employees on furlough and we are working diligently with the National Guard Bureau and our contacts within the DoD to bring ALL of our full-time National Guard personnel back to work. Until everyone is back to work and full funding for operations is returned, we are not back to “business as usual.” Most drills have been suspended until we are given the funding and authority to reconvene in a drilling status. The only authorized drills are those supporting units soon to deploy. Mission support is limited. Travel is restricted. The National Guard-funded cooperative agreements with our state entities and facilities are in extreme flux and remain very much at risk. We are also restricted from supporting most community events in the state. I’m deeply concerned that this lapse in appropriated funds may hinder our ability to respond in times of crisis. Our traditional Guardsmen can’t train, can’t prepare, and can’t conduct drills to ready ourselves and our equipment to deal with disasters. The longer the government operates with a lapse in appropriations, the worse our readiness becomes for our state and our nation. All Soldiers, Airmen and civilian employees of the North Dakota National Guard are mission critical to our state and our country. As best we can, we will continue to stand ready to respond to the call of our Governor to save lives and property here at home. The National Guard is the most cost-effective force to defend America when called. I am committed to working with senior military and political leaders, encouraging them to allow us to train to maintain our ability to do our job when called. Again, you, too, can express your concerns to our elected officials. I know the continuing budget uncertainty is stressful and frustrating. Please reach out to your Guard leadership for continued support. Your professionalism and commitment to our Guard makes us the best force available for our state and our country. Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk The Adjutant General of North Dakota I will also continue to provide you with the most up-to-date information. If you have a specific question related to you or your unit, don’t hesitate to use the chain of command to garner the answers to your questions or refer to our website at ndguard for specific furlough information. If you feel it necessary to visit directly with me, I can be reached at 701-333-2002. Thank you for your continued service in these very uncertain and challenging times.
Posted on: Wed, 09 Oct 2013 18:45:50 +0000
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